Steve Sidwell

[zac naloen]

Sidders is not THAT good.

When I went Villa and some of their fans asked about Sidwell my words were simply "Not as key as everyone makes him out to be".

Personally I think Sidwell is replaceable, but I'd rather keep hold of him than lose him and possibly make a mess of an excellent team spirit.

[Millsy]

Sidders is not THAT good.

When I went Villa and some of their fans asked about Sidwell my words were simply "Not as key as everyone makes him out to be".

Personally I think Sidwell is replaceable, but I'd rather keep hold of him than lose him and possibly make a mess of an excellent team spirit.

Interesting and I'm not surprised.

As I say, with Coppell's Midas touch and magic team even my granny could walk into Sidders' place and do a good job. I really am not that worried about him going.

[Banjax]

we'l lose our ginger status

[zac naloen]

we'l lose our ginger status

Do you need more than one ginger in the team to get it?

[Banjax]

yup and we are on the brink of level 3 with the scottish kiddy

[zac naloen]

yup and we are on the brink of level 3 with the scottish kiddy

Well if i was thinking that if we got him losing sidders wouldn't be such a big loss in that regard. (being ginger, need to give him a few years before he can play midfield)

[Denver Royal]

I keep hearing Sids is replaceable, yet I haven't seen too many names mentioned. Nobody in our current squad, that I'm aware of, fits the bill. So if Sids leaves in the Summer for nothing, what are we faced with?

Well, we'd likely need to fork out quite a lot of money on a replacement player that we like, who we hope is available, at a price we want to pay, and with no real guarantee they would be as good, or fit in as well, as Sids. And its already been discussed at great length as to how difficult it can be to attract top players to Reading FC.

I know some want to say 'good riddance', or worse. But like him or not, I'm not sure Sids is as 'replaceable' as some are making out.

Lets be honest, if he really was easily replaced, this wouldn't have become the saga it has. It would be a non-issue as to whether he stays or leaves, Sids wouldn't have the leverage he does, and Reading FC wouldn't be trying so hard to keep him. I'd hate to think Mr Hammond et al had gone to all this trouble over nothing

[zac naloen]

I keep hearing Sids is replaceable, yet I haven't seen too many names mentioned. Nobody in our current squad, that I'm aware of, fits the bill. So if Sids leaves in the Summer for nothing, what are we faced with?

Well, we'd likely need to fork out quite a lot of money on a replacement player that we like, who we hope is available, at a price we want to pay, and with no real guarantee they would be as good, or fit in as well, as Sids.

I know some want to say 'good riddance', or worse. But like him or not, I'm not sure Sids is as 'replaceable' as some are making out.

Lets be honest, if he really was easily replaced, this wouldn't have become the saga it has. It would be a non-issue as to whether he stays or leaves, Sids wouldn't have the leverage he does, and Reading FC wouldn't be trying so hard to keep him. I'd hate to think Mr Hammond et al had gone to all this trouble over nothing

Sure there are better players, whether we can get them to come here is an entirely different matter. Which is why he has the leverage he does.

Personally, I think Oster could do a job in his position until a quality replacement became available, but I'm not Coppell. But as I said, I don't think the club should sell him. He's not broken and we're doing well. So there's no sense in it which is probably how the club views it as well.

[Denver Royal]

You know, actually if we know for sure that he's not gonna sign and that he's gonna walk in the Summer, I think I would sell him now for a couple million. It now looks like we're going to stay up anyway, with or without him, so we may as well cash in our chips, otherwise we're going to be down a couple million in the Summer on a replacement. My first choice would be that he re-up's for us, though.

[zac naloen]

You know, actually if we know he's gonna walk in the Summer, I think I would sell him now for a couple million. It now looks like we're going to stay up anyway, with or without him, so we may as well cash in our chips, otherwise we're going to be down a couple million in the Summer on a replacement. My first choice would that he re-up's for us, though.

If we finish comfortably there is no reason why he shouldn't stay at Reading, especially if we give him the wage he desires. But we still seem reluctant to do so. I do recall Madjeski saying on the radio "We're keeping him" so i guess that means if it comes down to it, he'll pay the cash.

If Sidwell is worried about going back to championship football he can request a clause that if he desires, if demotion occurs.. and there being a club that wants him, we agree that we will let him go.

[Denver Royal]

Yeah, I just hope we don't get screwed a la what Sol Campbell did to Spurs when he went to Arsenal. If Sids leaves, I want to get something for him.

[Banjax]

You know, actually if we know he's gonna walk in the Summer, I think I would sell him now for a couple million. It now looks like we're going to stay up anyway, with or without him, so we may as well cash in our chips, otherwise we're going to be down a couple million in the Summer on a replacement. My first choice would that he re-up's for us, though.

1. he's surely worth more than 2mil on the open market

2. "looks like we're going to stay up anyway" did you want to jinx it anymore?

3. He is a big part of the reading wheel and im sure is a good (playing) example to some of our royal kiddies, he has been a massive part of getting us thus far even just for nostalic reasons id like to keep him

4. he has good confidence and believes in himself and the team, that rubs off on others

5. bring zamora in and he'l stay

6. not sure why i started numbering these points

[Denver Royal]

Not sure what he's worth, exactly. Just used 2 mil as an example. Keep in mind, if he walks in 4 months time, a club could sign him for nothing.

And yes, I do think our current position now enters into the equation. It has to.

[royals pete]

It shouldn't have come to this.

We have a terrific midfield when compared to a lot of other clubs.

Supporters are posting everywhere (take a look at Sheff U sites) for players to come in who WANT TO PLAY.

We already have those players. They don't grow on trees. And if anyone wantsa view of the true world...Pards is looking to offload Jimmy F Hassel as long as his new club can take over his wages...£30k a week !!
He doesn't score goals !

I believe we need to keep Sidds. Keep the TEAM and add to it slowly.

[Banjax]

1 Man Utd 22 9 1 1 26 7 8 2 1 23 8 +34 54
2 Chelsea 22 7 4 0 20 8 7 2 2 17 9 +20 48
3 Liverpool 22 9 2 0 23 3 3 2 6 9 13 +16 40
4 Arsenal 22 6 5 0 28 8 5 1 5 13 11 +22 39
5 Bolton 22 7 1 3 17 10 5 2 4 10 11 +6 39
6 Portsmouth 22 7 3 1 20 8 3 3 5 13 14 +11 36
7 Tottenham 22 8 1 2 19 9 1 4 6 7 19 -2 32
8 Everton 22 6 3 2 18 8 2 4 5 10 14 +6 31
9 Reading 22 6 1 4 18 13 3 2 6 12 17 0 30
10 Man City 22 5 4 2 10 6 3 1 7 9 19 -6 29
11 Blackburn 21 5 2 4 14 13 3 2 5 10 16 -5 28
12 Fulham 22 5 3 3 9 8 1 6 4 13 24 -10 27
13 Aston Villa 22 4 4 3 12 11 1 7 3 11 14 -2 26
14 Newcastle 22 5 3 3 16 13 2 2 7 7 15 -5 26
15 Middlesbrough 22 6 2 3 13 11 0 4 7 8 16 -6 24
16 Sheffield Utd 22 3 4 4 12 14 3 1 7 5 15 -12 23
17 Wigan Athletic 21 3 2 6 11 17 3 2 5 11 14 -9 22
18 West Ham 22 5 1 5 10 11 0 2 9 2 22 -21 18
19 Charlton 22 4 3 4 10 13 0 1 10 6 26 -23 16
20 Watford 20 1 5 3 8 9 0 4 7 4 17 -14 12


still doesn't look safe to me, i still can't sleep

[zac naloen]

4 straight losses for us, and 4 straight wins for say.. west ham and we could well end up in the relegation zone. Here's hoping the team perform

[royals pete]

Zac.....that is NOT going to happen.

Have confidence....we have a terrific team. On form, we have the beating of Everton on Sunday. So thats the first 'defeat' out of the way.

[zac naloen]

Zac.....that is NOT going to happen.

Have confidence....we have a terrific team. On form, we have the beating of Everton on Sunday. So thats the first 'defeat' out of the way.

But I want to be pessimistic

[royals pete]

Typical supporter ! Its an English thing. ( I think )

[Dirk Gently]

4 straight losses for us, and 4 straight wins for say.. west ham and we could well end up in the relegation zone. Here's hoping the team perform

Not quite - all that would mean is that West Ham are above us.

It'd need 4 straight losses for us and 1 win for Man City, Blackburn and Fulham; 2 wins from Villa, Newcastle & Boro; 3 wins from Sheffield Utd and Wigan and those 4 wins from West Ham.

Much less likely!